Bridge



P. L. HUNT.

No Model.)

BRIDGE.

Patent ed Nov. 12, 1.895.

I n ven' or. 'ggzmzw Witnesses:

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PLATT L. HUNT, OF LITGHFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,643, dated November12, 1895.

' Application filed June 15, 1895. Serial No. 552,954. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PLATT L. Huima citizen of the United States,residing at Litchfield, in the county of Bradford and State of Peniisyl=Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in bridges, and has for itsobject more especiall to improve the construction of the longiti'idinalgirders or beams of wooden bridges, railroad-crossings, &c., with a viewtoward increasing their strength, lightness, and cheap ness.

This invention is particularly applicable for use on elevated railroadsover streets in cities and towns, although it may be used on any otherstyle of bridge; and it consists in boring the timbers or longitudinalgirders lengthwise through their centers and. inserting a steel, iron,or other metallic tube therein and securing steel bars to the bottom ofsaid girders, and then binding them together by means of suitablecross-ties, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view; Fig. 2, across-section on the line 00 w of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a bottom plan view.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A represents thelongitudinal girders of my improved bridge, made of wood or othermaterial; B, the steel or other metallic tubes therein; G, the metallicbars provided with flanges a, secured to the bottom of each of saidlongitudinal girders by means of spikes or other suitable means.

D are the metal cross-ties for binding the girders together, whichconsist of a central portion E and depending lips or straps F F.

These cross-ties are preferably put on the girders with every other tiesecured tothe bottom" of the girders with its lips extending upward,while the intervenin tie is put on the top of the girders and with itslips eX= tending downward. The purpose of this is to more efiectuallybrace and hold the bridge together. v

G are the railroad-rails.

. I-Ieretofore in constructing bridges with wooden beams or girders, andespecially small railroad-bridges, they have been necessarily weak andliable to be broken when any unusual strain has been put upon them; butby strengthening them by using the steel tubes of my inventionthisweakness has been obviated and the girders rendered strong and notliable to be broken.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bridge the girders provided with metallic strengthening tubestherein, in com bination with the cross ties secured alternately to thetop and bottom of said girders, substantially as described.

2. A girder for a bridge provided with a metallic strengthening tubetherein, a metallic plate on the bottom thereof provided with flangeswhich embrace the sides of the girder, substantially as described.

3. In a bridge the girders provided with metallic strengthening tubestherein, and the metallic plates on the bottom of said girders, incombination with the cross ties, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PLATT Ii. HUNT.

Witnesses:

G. BLIVIN, G.- S. CARPENTER.

